Archive for the ‘Uniquely South African’ Category

Our Pinotage grapes arrived on Thursday, 28 January! Below, some of our production moments captured on camera… 

Here’s to looking forward to what the rest of Harvest 2013 has to offer! 

‘For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.’

― Nelson Mandela

Cheers to our beloved Madiba!

Here’s a fantastic ostrich recipe for next time you have guests over. This is a perfect started to be enjoyed with the fine Kumkani Pinotage.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg Ostrich Fillet
• 1 – 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 30 g parmesan cheese, thinly sliced

Method: Grill ostrich fillet in pan or on an open fire. Seal fillets first before rubbing meat with black pepper. Braai until it’s rare or medium rare.

Remove from fire and place in a casserole. Leave until cold. Place in the fridge for 5 – 8 hours.

In the meantime, prepare the herb sauce and then cut the fillets into paper thin slices.

HERB SAUCE

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup light olive oil
• ¼ cup virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons French mustard
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped marjoram

Method: Mix first three ingredients well and divide equally. Pour into two small bowls. Add mustard and mayonnaise to one bowl oil/vinegar and mix with a small wire whisk. Do not use an electric blender it may cause the sauce to curdle.

Pour this sauce on the base and near the rim of the platter. Place the thinly sliced ostrich fillet (overlapping) on top of the sauce in the platter. Whisk herbs and remaining oil/vinegar mix together and pour over meat.

Decorate with slivers of parmesan. Serve hot or cold with a variety of breads and salad.

Source: ostrichsa.co.za

Pinotage grapes are a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault grapes. Professor A.I. Peroldt was the first to come up with the combination of grapes to create this wine in 1922. People did not favour the new wine at the time, so it wasn’t until 30 years later that it started being cultivated in earnest. Interestingly, people took a liking to it the second time around.

Since 1952, other countries have decided to start planting Pinotage grapes. Zimbabwe and New Zealand have the largest wineries for this type of wine besides South Africa. California and Canada also have a good number of vineyards.

Kumkani’s traditional South African pinotage is a perfect example. It’s a medium to full bodied wine, with a deep red colour. Has a ripe berry fruit on nose with a well balanced fruit layered pallet. Well integrated French oak aromas add vanilla and spice and pairing excellent with meat dishes.

So go on and appreciate a truly remarkable traditional wine. 

Source:  tree.com

Bredie is an old Cape name for a dish of stewed fatty mutton and vegetables. Try this traditional 18th century South African recipe for a taste of the Cape.

Ingredients

•  2 tablespoons (25 ml) Stork margarine
•  1,5 kg stewing lamb or mutton, cubed
•  1 3/5 cups (400 ml) water
•  500 g potatoes, cut into large chunks
•  1 teaspoon (5 ml) white sugar
•  2 large onions, sliced
•  1 packet Spaghetti Bolognaise
•  1 cup (250 ml) red wine
•  410g tin chopped tomatoes

Method

1. In a large saucepan heat the margarine
2. Sauté the onions for about 5 minutes or until transparent
3. Add the meat and brown quickly on all sides
4. Add the Spaghetti Bolognaise, 400 ml water and wine
5. Simmer covered for 1½-2 hours, or until the meat is tender
6. Add the potatoes, tomatoes and sugar, cook for a further 45 minutes
7. Serve with cooked rice

Recommended Wine: The well balanced and spicy Kumkani Shiraz will be the perfect wine with this meal.

Source: whatsfordinner.co.za

For a delicious stew with a dash of South African, try this wonderful recipe.

Ingredients:

• 700 g stew beef
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 to 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 ribs celery, sliced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup Pinotage
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary, or a dash of crumbled dried rosemary
• 425 g small onions, or 10 to 16 ounces frozen small onions, thawed

Preparation:

Trim stew beef and cut in small bite-size pieces. Put in a food storage bag with the flour, onion powder, and seasoned salt; toss to coat well.

Heat oil in a large saucepan or over medium heat; add beef to hot oil and cook, stirring, until lightly browned. Add the onion and celery; continue cooking, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Add carrots, garlic, broth, wine, and rosemary; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add drained or thawed onions. Continue cooking for about 20 to 30 minutes or until beef is tender. Serve with biscuits or hot cooked noodles.

Recommended Wine: The Kumkani Pinotage will be the perfect wine with this meal.

Enjoy!

Source: southernfood

It’s an age old tradition to pair wine with food. Everyone’s familiar with the idea of wine and cheese or wine and chocolate, but how about pairing wine with your braai?

The basic concept of pairing wine and food is to match the flavour intensity of the food with the wine you drink. For example a lightly flavoured piece of meat is complemented by a mildly flavoured wine. This way the flavour of one doesn’t overpower the flavour of the other.

When talking about the flavours of food, what better to you get than your assorted meats on an open flame? Also, anyone serious about a braai(bbq) knows about flavour, knows about patience, and knows that aroma can be as important as taste.

You have all sorts of braai styles, meats, sauces, wood or charcoal, shapes of the actual braai and of course – many different wines. It’s the perfect pair!

Here are a few thoughts on what works.

Try a Muscadel with spicy chicken wings or even with fish.

How about a Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc with grilled chicken?

Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon pair remarkably well with sauced up ribs.

A Kumkani Cabernet/Merlot can bring out the best in grilled pork chops or a Shiraz with a smoked red meat.

Some do tend to follow the rule that red wines pair well with red meat and white wines with white meat. This is a certainly a helpful hint, but remember there’s nothing wrong with a bit of experimentation.

Next time you light that fire, think of which cork you pop.

Source: bbq.about.com

South Africa’s Rainbow Nation title refers to the incredible diversity of its people, from the original Bushmen inhabitants of the land to the people who migrated and settled here over the years. There is hardly a nation on Earth that is not in some way represented in this diverse country.

The term Rainbow Nation of South Africa found popular appeal from the moment Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu first used it to capture the multicultural nature of our country.

It is not just the people that are diverse in this amazing country. South African climate, soil and wine growing conditions are different from region to region as the wide range of bio-diversity affects wine production.

It has often been noted that the Cape winelands are probably the most scenic in the world. For this reason wine tourism is one of the country’s growing industries. Offering a range of topographical pleasures ranging from high, snowy mountains to arid plains, arrangements for tourists are becoming more and more sophisticated in the various regions

Iconic and award winning Kumkani wines exemplify the rich traditions and cultures of South Africa. The grapes are mainly produced in the Darling and Stellenbosch areas and cellar tastings can be done at our Welmoed cellar.

Source: southafrica.net

The company of wine people TM is pleased to announce a restructure of its Kumkani brand as a Black owned business with a strong commercial focus to grow sales in both the local and international markets.

Allison S Adams-Witbooi, a former winemaker at Stellenbosch Wine Services, has agreed to form a 50/50 partnership with the Company to grow the brand and take it in a new direction. Her co-ownership of the brand will make it a Black owned brand within the wine industry, allowing it access to the network of Black owned businesses with its resources to grow in international markets.

Adams-Witbooi (30) has demonstrated considerable leadership capabilities and an entrepreneurial spirit while employed at the company of wine peopleTM and its Board feels her demonstrated enthusiasm and personality are key in her steering Kumkani to new heights. In addition, her winemaking background is an important capability in dealing with wine buyers, consumers and the media.

“We believe the Kumkani brand, with its positioning of African sophistication, is the ideal vehicle for such a partnership,” says CEO of the company of wine peopleTM, Hermann Böhmer. “This new development also demonstrates our strong commitment to empowerment as well as the entrepreneurial development of the talent within our company.”

Adams-Witbooi has an extensive background in working in the wine industry. She completed harvest seasons at Rustenberg, Grootte Post and Hartenberg, and worked in cellars and tasting venues while still a student. After graduation, she also worked for The Winery of Good Hope, Meinert Wines and Wines of South Africa (Wosa). Stints overseas at wineries in Northern Italy and the South of France gave her some insight into the international wine scene. She was appointed at the company of wine peopleTM in 2009.

“This road has lead me to get to know the industry, its players and consumers of the product,” she says. “I’m looking forward to this new challenge. I see a lot of potential for growth and I want to ensure a consistency in Kumkani’s quality.”

One thing that will not change, is the brand’s South African identity. “Kumkani is uniquely South African and it is going to remain so, from the varietal choices to the packaging. My vision is that people will be proud to drink the wine and be associated with it.”

The venture will be called Kumkani Wines and it will be operated as a division of the company of wine peopleTM, who will serve as a mentor to Allison. She will, supported by the Company, be responsible for all sales and marketing and be the primary face of the brand to wine buyers, consumers, industry bodies and the media. Initially, her sales focus will be on the South African market. In turn, Wine People will take responsibility for all financial and administration functions. She will work closely with the winemaking team and be involved in approving the wine styles in the brand’s portfolio.

the company of wine people TM expresses its confidence in this new partnership to present Kumkani to both the local and overseas market as a modern, intriguing, top quality wine with pedigree and status. Click here for more information on Kumkani

Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday. In December, the southern summer brings glorious days of sunshine that carry an irresistible invitation to the beaches, the rivers, and the shaded mountain slopes. Then the South African holiday season reaches its height. Schools are closed, and camping is the order of the day. In South Africa there is no snow, but it has many flowers, many beautiful varieties of cultivated and wild flowers being in their full pride.

In the cities and towns carolers make their rounds on Christmas Eve. Church services are held on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve celebrations in larger centers include “Carols by Candlelight” and special screen and floor shows.

Homes are decorated with pine branches, and all have the decorated Christmas fir in a corner, with presents for the children around. At bedtime on Christmas Eve, children may also hang up their stockings for presents from Father Christmas.

Many South Africans have a Christmas dinner in the open-air lunch. For many more, it is the traditional dinner of either leg of lamb, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding, crackers, paper hats, and all. In the afternoon, families go out into the country and usually there are games or bathing in the warm sunshine, and then home in the cool of the evening. Boxing Day is also a proclaimed public holiday usually spent in the open air. It falls on December 26 and is a day of real relaxation.

The Kumkani Merlot Pinotage will complement the traditional beef or lamb dishes and will complete the uniquely South African Christmas dinner

Source: santas.net

South African wine website, wine.co.za has launched a great initiative. The campaign  is calling on every South African living abroad to share a drop of sunshine with a local on 16 December.

We would love every South African out there to open up a bottle of South African wine,
and show your mates just how good our wine is – taste some sunshine, sunshine!

We have chosen the 16th December as it is a very special day for us South Africans, and it is right in the middle of the northern hemispheres winter…
just when they need a little bit of sunshine in their lives – so spread a little bit of our sunshine, sunshine!

Get a great bottle of South African wine and sit down quietly and taste it with your mates.
Let them taste some of our sunshine. And of course, you don’t have to stop there…you could even open up a second bottle and then not so quietly share some of our sunshine.

And for those ex-pats out there in the land of OZ, or down the south of America, they might not need the sunshine, but you have to agree…
they do need to taste some good wine for a change, so get them to taste what makes us shine.

Then, please take some pictures and videos, and show us all what you did by posting them on the social networks (#tastewinesunshine) and at wine.co.za

And please tell us at wine.co.za so that we can organise this again next year.

So sunshine, what great South African wine are you going to taste this year !

South Africans abroad can serve the king of South African wines, the multi award winning Kumkani wines.

The stars was really shining on the  king of South African Wines, Kumkani , as the brand achieved a whopping seven 4-star ratings for its wines  in the Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2012.

Leading the way is the immaculate Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc which scored  4½ Stars.

The other outstanding wines which received a  4-star ratings include the

• Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
• Kumkani Triple J Shiraz 2009
• Kumkani Reflections Range VVS 2009
• Kumkani Infiniti MCC 2007
• Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2010
• Kumkani Chardonnay-Viognier 2010

Well done to the winemaking team!

Eastern Cape wine lovers will be able to sample this year’s double gold and gold Veritas Award-winning wines, including the Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2010.
Guests will be treated to a sit-down tasting event that includes light refreshments at the Squires Legendary Grill in the Boardwalk centre in Beach Road. This event takes place on 15 November from 18h00 to 19h30 and costs R100 per person.

For more info on this event visit wine.co.za

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Wine lovers in the Durban area will be able to sample this year’s double gold and gold Veritas Award-winning wines ,including the Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2010.

The tasting event will be held in the Function Room, Deloittes Head Office in Umhlanga on 3 November

For more info on this event visit http://tiny.cc/gmmv9

Wine lovers in and around Johannesburg will be able to sample this year’s double gold and gold Veritas Award-winning wines ,including the Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2010.

The tasting and gourmet evening will be held at the Bill Gallagher Room of the Sandton Convention Centre on 26 October.

For more info on this event visit wine.co.za

Kumkani, the ‘king’ of South African wines, showed its royal pedigree this weekend after scooping up six medals at the 21st annual Veritas Awards ceremony, including a gold, two silvers and three bronze.

The Veritas Awards is South Africa’s biggest wine competition, and is widely regarded as its most highly esteemed indicator of quality, market-ready wines.

The Veritas Gold medal was awarded to Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced from the coastal regions of Darling and Stellenbosch, the grapes were chosen for optimal quality to produce this fresh and well-balanced wine.

Bursting with crisp, fruit-driven flavours and characterised by aromas of ripe gooseberry and underlying notes of grass and green pepper, this refreshing wine is makes an exceptional food partner, especially for green salads, asparagus and shell fish.

The Veritas Silver medals were awarded to Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 and the Kumkani Shiraz 2009. Bronze medals were awarded to the Kumkani Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, the Kumkani Pinotage 2009, and the Kumkani Inifiniti Brut 2007 – which was also ranked 4-stars in the 2011 Wine Magazine Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge.

Kumkani wines – which are renowned for delivering exceptional value and quality – are available from just R49 per bottle directly at the cellar door or at chosen wine outlets nationwide.

The uniquely South African wine brand Kumkani (derived from the Xhosa word for ‘king’ ) were awarded a gold medal at this year’s Veritas Awards.

The impressive Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2010 received a gold medal while five other Kumkani  wines were also in the medals.

Here is a summary of the Kumkani wine which received medals at this year Veritas Awards

GOLD

• Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2010

SILVER

• Kumkani Cradle Hill Cab 2005
• Kumkani Shiraz 2009

BRONZE

• Kumkani Infiniti Brut 2007
• Kumkani Shiraz/Cab 2009
• Kumkani Pinotage 2009

About the competition:

Out of the 1,739 entries, 42 double golds were awarded, 158 golds, 609 silvers and 619 bronze.

For more information you can visit www.veritas.co.za